New Friends and VBS

This week is the week that we officially begin our kindergarten year with Olivia!  I am so excited to get started.  We have actually done about 3 weeks worth of work over the last month, but it has been kind of here and there since we were hosting house guests and attending VBS.  I have a friend who just moved back to the area and she is actually planning to homeschool her oldest daughter this year also, which is SO EXCITING.  It is always so nice to have a friend traveling down the same path.  Anyway, we attended Vacation Bible School with Olivia's new friend, Jaycee last week.  They LOVED it.  One afternoon after VBS, Jaycee came over for a little playdate.  The girls played dress up, had tea parties, danced to Swan Lake, baked cakes, and read books.  They were so sweet.  After Jaycee left that afternoon, Olivia said, "Mom, I asked God for a friend just my age and he gave me one, didn't he?!".  She was just so amazed that God had answered her prayers.  He hears the prayers of little ones, for sure!  Jaycee and Olivia are about 2 weeks apart and they are so funny together!

These photos are from a few days ago when we all got together for a playdate.  We have five little girls combined.  What could be more fun that this!?!

 Little Miss Rylee

 Oh. My. Gosh!  Caroline and Rylee holding hands was just too cute!

Hahaha.. I just can't get over these two and their poses!  They all had the best time!  We also have MORE exciting news!  Ellie is getting so close to walking.  She has been pulling up and letting go this week.  

....And apparently all that pulling up is so exhausting!  She has been falling asleep in her high chair during afternoon snack!  :)  

Thanks for reading!  I have so much more to share in the next few posts!!!

-Maegan

Olivia's 1st Day of Preschool!

It is hard to believe, but our big 3 year old had her first day of preschool yesterday!  While my main interest at this point is continuing on the path of schooling at home for the most part, I recognize Olivia's need to learn from other adults.  She is very social and even though we have a diverse playgroup, I knew she would benefit greatly from being around different kids and teachers.  We decided a while back to join the local homeschooling co-op and I am so glad that we did!  The first day really went well.  A local church allows the co-op to use their building for classes every Friday, and I have to say I was very impressed with how the classes were set up!  They were much larger and much more child-friendly than I had imagined.  They were all painted in bright colors and each room had a wild rug.  Olivia definitely approved.

The co-op offers a wide range of classes suitable for kids of all ages.  We had to be out of town on the day of registration so a friend was able to take our paperwork and sign her up for us, thankfully.  At that time, we were told that all of the classes had filled up quickly so they would have to open more.  That in itself was a good sign!  I never would have imagined how much the homeschooling community in this area is growing.  It was a very reassuring feeling when we walked in Friday morning to find the lobby filled with families who are all on similar paths.  While their reasons for homeschooling may be different, they have all been called to the same place!  Anyway, since the original classes filled up so quickly, I was anxious to see who her teachers would be and what classes she would be in.  She was placed in Fun Fitness for first hour, Reading Alive for second hour, and Preschool Art for third hour.  I think it is going to be a great semester there!  She was kept busy during her classes and did well being separated from me, which made me feel very confident about the rest of the year.  

While Olivia is taking classes, I will be working in the nursery.  The first day was a little hectic but that's to be expected for the first day!  I am looking forward to field trips, school pictures, and the fall party already.  Those are the things about school that I remember being so excited about as a child.  I didn't want my little ones to miss out on them, so I am SO excited to learn that we will still be able to participate in those things!  Holiday parties and field trips?!  It doesn't get any better.  It just doesn't.  I am also thankful that we are able to be a part of an organization that is ran by the parents.  I definitely felt a sense of community there and I am really looking forward to getting to know the other families better.

Enjoy the pictures!  We had quite the photo shoot so I had to share!  

Olivia and her friend Ethan

Love, Maegan

End of Summer Changes

There are MANY changes going on in our household lately.  I think both kids are trying to prepare me for the lack of sleep that goes along with having a newborn in the house, because no one has been sleeping past 6 a.m.  I'm taking the opportunity to use this to get us on an earlier schedule.  Earlier bedtimes, earlier wake times, earlier nap times!  Gavin (our nephew) starts kindergarten this year and we will be picking him up from school, so this schedule will fit our needs for the year.  I am looking forward to having a school-age kid in the house.  I just love seeing all those papers and notes from teachers!  That is definitely something we would be missing if we decided to homeschool during the elementary years but we do have Gavin to share those things with us.  Last week, we signed Olivia up for a few classes with the SEMO Homeschoolers.  It is a co-op that offers elective classes for children who are being primarily homeschooled.  Obviously, she is just in the Pre-K phase of this but I think joining for the year will give us an idea if this is something that our family wants to pursue.  As of right now, she is signed up for Fun Fitness, Reading Alive, and Colors and Shapes.  It was VERY affordable, so that's a bonus.  It is a volunteer-based program, so we will see how volunteering with two babies will go!  Classes start the end of August, so hopefully that will give us a little time to settle into a routine before baby #3 arrives.  I am really looking forward to seeing Olivia grow as a student.  We have been off of our preschool routine the last few weeks, but started back this morning.  She amazes me at how well she retains information!  I think she will be reading by next summer.

Olivia and her friend, Ethan at the Osage Center

Another new change that is definitely worth noting is that Caroline has been walking on her own this morning!  She has been taking a few steps here and there, but today is the first day I have seen her really take off on her own.  She definitely isn't afraid of anything.  She has been jumping off of furniture and climbing onto things for months.  She is a wild child!  She has several fading bumps and bruises on her forehead from the new hardwood floors.  She also still likes to explore under the kitchen table, but she hasn't quite figured out she's too tall!  In the last several weeks, both kids have had doctor visits and Caroline is 19lbs and Olivia is 37 lbs.  It is hard to believe that they are so big!  All of Caroline's growing must have worn her out, because she has had a hard time staying awake at the table :)

Such a sleepy girl!

Aside from getting ready for the new baby, we have also been getting ready for Caroline's first birthday!  I am just so excited about this.  My husband would tell you I get way too excited over birthdays and holidays. I am already thinking about Halloween and Christmas, but we won't get into that now.  Caroline is having a John Deere themed birthday party!  We are having it outside, EVEN though it will be a million degrees.  Olivia's birthday is in January so this is the first outdoor party I have ever got to plan, so we're taking advantage of it.  Of course, if there is bad weather or a heat advisory we will have to move it indoors.  My parents have such a nice, shady yard so we are having it at their house.  My friend, Jessica made our invitations and banners with her Cricut. She recently opened an etsy store to sell her fabulous creations, so if you are in need of some birthday pretties, check it out here!  She also has pictures of Caroline's banners posted, so you can get an idea of what the decor will be like.  Here is a sneak peek at Caroline's invites:  

They are even cuter in person, if you can imagine that!

I have been working on a few projects for her birthday.  Since it is her first birthday, it is so sentimental (for her momma, at least).  I really wanted to make her something that she would have for years to come.  My mom had some extra John Deere fabric, so I decided to make Caroline a quilt!  Okay, ya'll...  I don't know how to quilt but it doesn't LOOK hard.  I mean, you sew a bunch of squares together, add a little backing, and voila!  A quilt!  Okay, it was a few more steps than that, and ACTUALLY it still isn't finished.  The finishing steps will take all of about 5 minutes but I just haven't got around to doing it yet.  I will post a picture  as soon as it's finished!!!  

We have a busy week ahead of us.  On Thursday, I am hosting a Thirty-One party!  I am so excited.. Really, really excited!  I have been considering becoming a consultant for this company, and when the time is right, it is definitely something I will do.  Thirty-One is a faith-based company that sells totes, and bags, and so many adorable things!  Best of all, they monogram!  If you know me very well, you know how I feel about monogrammed bags...  Probably my favorite thing. Ever.  The girls both got monogrammed overnight bags for Christmas and I just LOVE them.  Anyway, back to the party... If you would like to place an order for this party, you can go here, then click "My Parties" and find my name.  I am so excited about the possibility of joining Thirty-One's team!  It would be a great opportunity to bring in a little extra income, and get out of the house and meet new people at the same time.  At this time, my number one priority is being at home with my family.  I feel like God has led us to this point in our lives and my children need me at home full-time.  However, if I could keep my full-time mommy job and do parties on the side, that would be the best scenario.  I am so thankful that Nathan's job provides us enough so that I can stay at home with the kids.  While it is very much a tiring, never-ending job, it is also a privilege, a blessing, and the most rewarding job.  I am so blessed to be the one watching my children meet every milestone.  Thanks for reading!  

Love, Maegan